embezzle

verb

em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbe-zəl How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
em-
embezzled; embezzling im-ˈbe-zə-liŋ How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
-ˈbez-liŋ,
em-

transitive verb

: to appropriate (something, such as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use
embezzled thousands of dollars
embezzlement noun
embezzler
im-ˈbe-zə-lər How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
em-
-ˈbez-lər
noun

Did you know?

English is full of verbs that mean “to steal” (such as pilfer, rob, swipe, plunder, filch, and thieve). But when it comes to stealing property (and in this context, money is a kind of property) that has been entrusted to you, embezzle wins the prize. The word most often refers to theft of company or government funds that one has charge of, and embezzlement is therefore a hallmark of white-collar crime—that is, crime committed by so-called “white-collar” workers. In the 15th century, around the time that embezzlement entered English (the ultimate root is Anglo-French besiller “to steal, plunder”), it would have also been possible to say that such plunderers “bezzled” company cash, but bezzle is now considered obsolete.

Examples of embezzle in a Sentence

He was caught embezzling money from his clients. He was convicted of embezzling.
Recent Examples on the Web Ukraine’s main internal security service, the SBU, wrote on Telegram on Friday that Kolomoisky was accused of embezzling the equivalent of around $157 million. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 Girardi is under federal indictment in two jurisdictions — L.A. and Chicago — for allegedly embezzling $18 million from clients in what prosecutors have described as a decades-long Ponzi scheme involving settlement money. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023 In addition, a deputy economy minister is on trial, accused of embezzling from humanitarian aid funds. Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023 Within a month, the former lawyer was tangled in a complicated web of legal controversies: He was accused of embezzling client funds for his own personal spending; he was sued by his former law firm partners; and his law firm was facing bankruptcy. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023 And on Friday, Ukrainian media reported that and a court set bail at more than $25,000 for a former deputy minister of economy accused of embezzling humanitarian aid. Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2023 Last year, Jayne was dismissed from a lawsuit that alleged that her husband embezzled $2 million from the families of victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash in Indonesia. Doha Madani, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2023 For decades, Imelda and her husband, the President and eventual dictator Ferdinand Marcos (Jose Llana), embezzled billions, a level of state theft that needed nine years of brutal martial law in order to operate at scale. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023 In early 2020, Smith was charged with 10 offenses by state prosecutors in the probe accusing him of embezzling money from his former office's forfeiture funds. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'embezzle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English embesilen, from Anglo-French embesiller to make away with, from en- + besiller to steal, plunder

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of embezzle was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near embezzle

Cite this Entry

“Embezzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embezzle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

embezzle

verb
em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbez-əl How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
embezzled; embezzling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
: to take (property entrusted to one's care) dishonestly for one's own use
embezzled thousands of dollars
embezzlement noun
embezzler noun

Legal Definition

embezzle

transitive verb
em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbe-zəl How to pronounce embezzle (audio)
embezzled; embezzling
: to convert (property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use compare defalcate
embezzlement noun
embezzler noun
Etymology

Anglo-French embeseiller to make away with, from en-, prefix stressing completion + beseller to snatch, misappropriate, from Old French, to destroy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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